Kosovo independence not illegal: UN court

The International Court of Justice in The Hague has ruled Kosovo's split from Serbia in 2008 did not violate international law, in a move which lends weight to Kosovo's view of its own independence.

The court rejected Serbian claims that the move had violated its territorial integrity.

The decision may have implications for other separatist movements around the world.

Kosovo's foreign minister, Skender Hyseni, says people are partying in the streets of Pristina.

"It's great news for Kosovo," he said.

"I would say it is a great news for the Western Balkans. The International Court of Justice has firmly supported our request that the declaration of Kosovo's independence was in no way in contravention to any applicable rules of international law.

"Now we have legal proof that our independence didn't break an international law.

"We can finally really aspire for what every country, what every citizen of this planet aspires for - some freedom and to live the life the way life should be."

But Serbia's foreign minister Vuk Jeremic, says nothing he heard in the courtroom changes his view that Kosovo's declaration was unlawful.

He says the court focused narrowly on the text of the declaration, not Kosovo's right to declare it.

"This is clearly said in the reasoning of the court," he said.

"So in other words, they discussed the mere text, not the right of the Kosovo being an institution to declare it under international law."

Oxford University historian Mark Almond thinks many people will see the judgement as a green light for a sub-unit of a country to organise its own campaign for independence, for example the Basque country in Spain.

"Perhaps [a country could] organise its own referendum, and there is no authority to stop that even in a democratic country like Spain, or for instance in Romania, or other countries neighbouring or nearby to Kosovo," he said.

"You might see spontaneous organisations saying that just because we live in a country that is recognised as democratic, we as a sub group, a minority, want to be the majority in our own state."

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